IllaZilla

I’d like to see the Gophers go somewhere, but they keep disappointing me. They should beat Omaha (their goalie gave up some really soft goals against Denver). But this is the classic opponent for the Gophers to crap the bed…

This isn’t directed at anyone, just my 2 cents… I know it’s human nature to be a misery ghoul and gloat over what befalls others, but I think it’s kind of sad that Dubay has fallen so far. He is someone’s son or brother or relative, and I hope he can figure out his demons before it is too late.

Kind of wonder why the Wild are so insistent on “grit” and “toughness” when they never respond to hits like Killorn’s…

Depends. Are the Wild going to draft another Charlie Stramel?

What a cutie! Love it!

She just got back from the groomer and was feeling very pretty!

I haven't been as active as I was on the old boards, but I'm getting older and slowing down. I made it through COVID only getting it once. Not sure if many of you know, but I work for the State Health Department. While that was a very trying time for everyone, it was especially trying for Health Department staff. Everyone hated us. Either we were doing too much, or we weren't doing enough. It was very difficult to converse with anybody (even family) without being yelled at for not doing enough to protect people or doing too much and interfering in personal rights. It was also difficult to be asked to do things and then having people who knew nothing of epidemiology tell you "You don't know what you're talking about." So I pretty much pulled back from social media. This is about the only place I'm moderately active. And my mental health has been better for it. My oldest graduated from UND during COVID with a business degree. Scored a job in sales at Ferguson and is doing well. My youngest is at the U of M studying Material Science and Engineering. So the Mrs and I are pretty much empty nesters and have started to visit as many National Parks as we can. Our ultimate goal is to visit all of them. So far we've hit Glacier Bay (AK), Acadia (ME), and Rocky Mountain (CO). We are looking at the Big Five (UT) this coming fall. So we have a way to go. I lost my most goodest girl this summer. Bella was 16 years old, and her hips were going. So we ended up saying good bye in August. That was a tough one. As far as the Wild goes, I feel they are going no where fast. In my opinion they are stuck in a cycle of mediocrity due to their refusal to rebuild and always pushing for the Playoffs. They are in all likelihood going to miss the Playoffs this year, but they are just going to miss them and end up with a number 15-20 first round pick. Yes, they'll get a nice player, but nice players don't get you Stanley Cups. I'll still watch them, but I'm not holding my breath for them to even get past the first round. Even after the buy outs are over.

Iowa’s struggles to me show how little depth the Wild truly have. Dakota Mermis staying with the Wild torpedoed the Baby Wild’s season? Really? I mean, I’m glad Mermis got his shot in the NHL. But just him leaving Iowa killing their season? Mermis is a defenseman. Where are the scorers? Why is the defense so terrible? is Wallstedt really the brick wall we’ve been lead to believe? Or maybe this is an outcome of the Wild’s continuing preoccupation with making the playoffs. They continue to strive for the playoffs, get a low first round draft pick, and then act surprised when they get bounced in the first round. Nothing is going to change until the Wild decide to rebuild. They’ve done this “retool on the fly” for years and have continued to get the same result: a first round exit. But hey, as long as Craig gets his playoff money, who cares, right?

Russo said it was either the worst 4-on-4 in NHL history or the greatest 4-on-4 NZ forecheck by both teams in NHL history…

MAF with the clean sheet…

Same way the ref called MAF for high sticking when Vatrano skated into his stick…

And here we go…

Well, they going to keep their foot on the gas or let the Ducks back in?

They are so deliberate on the PP…

Not sure what took that ref so long to call that penalty…

They’re making this too hard.

That’s a back breaker. Give up a goal with a minute to go on the intermission.

Hartman!

The lose 90% of face offs period.

Technically they got one. Because Smashville got the loser point. This team just can’t get out of its own way…

Huh. Wild tie it up at the end of two and no responses. I think we’ve given up on the Wild…

Either everyone’s given up on the Wild or are suffering from Daylight Savings Time. Maybe both…

And there it is. 2-1 Preds…

Sounds like Marat Khusnutdinov is in St Paul and skating with the staff. Potential debut against Arizona or Anaheim this week…

I’m following along on the Athletic because I’ve heard better announcing at a high school hockey game. Where did TNT find their announcers?